Paradise Town Council approves ladder fire truck purchase

The Paradise Town Council voted to purchase a new ladder truck for fire services at Tuesday's meeting, along with a vote to take the final step in the transition to Cal Fire services and some preparations for a new council.

Councilmembers voted unanimously to purchase a ladder truck from the City of Marysville at the cost of $30,000. That total will be paid off over three years in installments of $10,000, with the first year's payment coming from the fire equipment fund and the following years' payments being paid through the sale of the town's out-of-service truck and other similar revenues.

The truck from Marysville, a 1987 SPI Quint Ladder Truck, comes as a "screaming deal" to the town for many reasons, said Cal Fire/Butte County Fire Assistant Chief Rob Cone.

Among them are enhanced fire coverage for tall buildings in Paradise, possible improvements or stabilizations in local property tax evaluations because of that coverage and the fact that a new truck would cost at least $500,000, if not nearly double that. The truck will incur some additional costs because it may need minor modifications and will need a new coat of paint to make it Paradise's own, but Cone considered those costs negligible because gear the town currently owns can be used for the truck, he told the council.

Necessary training to use the truck are projected to be free at this point through offers from other agencies to help train local firefighters.

The council also voted unanimously to approve the delivery of a promissory note to Cal Fire on the payments of post-retirement medical coverage for Paradise firefighters transferring to the agency. The total cost of the agreement is $747,471.60 to be paid over 10 years at an interest rate of .382 percent.

"This, again, is the final agreement before the full transition to Cal Fire near the beginning of the next month," Town Manager Chuck Rough advised the council before the vote.

The meeting was the last for councilmembers Alan White and Joe DiDuca. Councilmember elects John Rawlings and Greg Bolin attended the meeting, with Rawlings speaking to the council about an approved resolution to sell excess office supplies owned by the town.

Rawlings suggested that the town hold the supplies, which include desks, book shelves and tables, until the new council was seated, his reasoning being that the new council should push for councilmembers to have offices in Town Hall. He argued that at least the mayor should have an office so that people could reach the official more easily.

Rough responded that selling the supplies would not impede his suggestion, and White motioned to amend the resolution so that Rawlings and Bolin could sift through the materials before sale in case any items seemed of use to them. The motion passed.